Packaging of cigars or the like



Sept 1966 B. J. TAMARlN 3,272,321

PACKAGING OF CIGARS OR THE LIKE Filed March 26, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet l I I J A u A? 5 INVENTOR. BE/P/V/MD J. TAMAR/N I Sept. 13, 1966 B. J. TAMARlN 3,272,321

PACKAGING OF CIGARS OR THE LIKE Filed March 26, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

EEK/MRO J, TAMAR/A U WI- M M? p 1966 B. .1. TAMARIN PACKAGING OF CIGARS OR THE LIKE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 26, 1964 p 13, 1966 B. J. TAMARlN 3,272,321

PACKAGING OF CIGARS OR THE LIKE Filed March 26, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 ax r INVENTOR. BERN/1RD J. TAM/J RM! United States Patent 3,272,321 PACKAGING OF CIGARS OR THE LIKE Bernard J. Tamarin, Whitemarsh, Pa., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to Pull Packaging, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Mar. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 355,117 16 Claims. (Cl. 20641.2)

This invention relates to packaging of cigars or the lfike and concerns especially a dispensing package there- A conventional type of cigar package contains several cigars arranged in a row side by side in a relatively stiff boXlike container having a covering and flap openable to permit removal of the contents. Such a container is usually rectangular on the sides and ends (i.e. parallelepipedal) and has such an end flap joined to one wide side wall, folded across the end surface, and tucked at its free end inside along the opposite wide side wall. Such containers have numerous disadvantages, including loss of rigidity and exposure or even spillage of the contents when open and difliculty of reclosing and insufficient rigidity even when reclosed.

A primary object of the present invention is provision of a dispensing cigar package or the like.

Another object is provision of such a package characterized by improved rigidity when open and when reclosed.

A further object is provision of a folding packaging blank adapted to form such a package.

Other objects of this invention, together with means and methods for attaining the various objects, will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying diagrams, which illustrate various embodiments of the same.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, from above and to the right of center, of a package of this invention, shown closed;

'FIG. 2 is a similar perspective View of the same package, shown open and during the dispensing of a cigar therefrom;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the same package, closed as in RIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the same package, open as in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation of the upper portion of the same package, open as in FIGS. 2 and 4;

FIG. 6 is a fiat view of a first embodiment of packaging blank, which is adapted to form a package such as is shown in the preceding views;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation of a cigar package, shown closed, formed from the blank of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a front elevation of the cigar package of FIG. 7, here partly broken away to reveal the interior and shown open, with a cigar being dispensed therefrom;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary top sectional view, taken at IX-IX of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary bottom sectional view, taken at XX of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a fiat view of a second embodiment of packaging blank according to this invention;

FIG. 12 is a front elevation of a cigar package, shown closed, formed from the blank of FIG. 11;-

FIG. 13 is a front elevation of the package of FIG. 12, here partly broken away to reveal the interior and shown open, with a cigar being dispensed therefrom;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary persepective view of a corner of the package of the immediately preceding views; and

FIGS. 15a, 15b, and are detailed sectional views of the package corner of FIG. 14, taken at XVaXVa, XVb-XVb, and XVcXVc, respectively, thereon;

FIG. 16 is a flat view of the wiper portion of a third embodiment of packaging blank according to this invention;

FIG. 17 is a front elevation of a cigar package, shown closed, formed from the blank of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a front elevation of the package of FIG. 17, here shown open and with a cigar being dispensed therefrom;

FIG. 19 is a front elevation of the upper portion of a fourth embodiment of packaging blank according to this invention;

FIG. 20 is a front elevation of the upper portion of a cigar package, shown closed, formed from the blank of FIG. 19; and

FIG. 21 is a front elevation of the upper portion of a package of FIG. 20, here shown open and with a cigar being dispensed therefrom;

FIG. 22 is a flat view of the upper portion of a fifth embodiment of packaging blank according to this invention;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a cigar package, shown closed, formed from the packaging blank of FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a similar perspective view of the package of FIG. 23, here shown open and with a cigar lbeing dispensed therefrom;

FIG. 25 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a corner of the package of FIG. 23, taken at XXV-XXV thereon; and

FIG. 26 is a fragmentary sectional view of a corner of the package of FIG. 24, taken at XXVIXXVI thereon;

FIG. 27 is a fiat view of the sixth embodiment of packaging blank according to this invention; and

FIG. '28 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a cigar package formed from the packaging blank of FIG. 27, and shown open, with a cigar shown in phantom in the dispensing opening.

In general, the objects of the present invention are accomplished, in a portable package for cigars or other cylindrical articles arranged side by side in a row, by means of an end closure swingably openable to dispense one of the articles. More particularly, the end closure is openable by forcible contact of the end of one of the articles against the closure from the inside to dispense that article, the package having an opening in a side wall thereof adjacent that article to enable the article to be manipulated into such contact with the end closure to open it. The invention also comprehends packaging blanks for providing such features when folded into package form and including means for securing shut the end portions adjacent the openable end closure.

, FIG. 1 shows, in perspective, package 10 of this invention, with part of the vertical extent thereof omitted as indicated by phantom lines, the height of the package being determined by the length of the cigars or other cylindrical articles contained therein. As shown, the package has rectangular sides and ends. The thickness of the package depends upon the diameter of the articles, which are arranged, preferably in a single row, side by side, and the package width depends upon the number of articles as well as their diameter. In the instance of cigars there is little or no standardization in length or diameter, so package dimensions vary greatly, but the present invention is applicable, irrespective of dimensions, to any such portable package. The bottom (not shown) may be of any suitable construction.

Front wall 12 of package is relatively wide and adjoins pair of narrow walls 11 (hidden except at its top edge) and 13. The front wall has opening 22 therein located near and parallel to the side edge adjoining narrow wall 13 and nearer the top than the bottom. Parts of two cigars 20 are visible through the opening. It will be understood that the opening normally will be sealed, as by a surrounding sheath (or, alternatively, a covering window) of preferably transparent or translucent laminar material (not shown) until the package reaches the consumer, whereupon the seal will be removed to facilitate dispensing of the contents.

The top of package 10, shown (closed) in perspective in FIG. 1 and in plan in FIG. 3, is in the form of a flap joined to the back wall (hidden in this view) and divided into minor and major portions 21 and 23, respectively, with welt 25 therebetween crossing the top transversely parallel to the narrow edges formed by the top edges of narrow side walls 11 and 13. The welt, which corresponds to a scoring of the opposite surface of the top, provides a hinging location for minor portion 21, which constitutes part of an openable closure in the top end of the package.

FIG. 2 shows package 10 in perspective much as in FIG. 1 with two hands superimposed, the left hand holding the package and the right hand sliding cigar upward, thereby opening that end closure by swinging minor portion 21 of the top upward about its hinge, which is at welt (hidden in this view). FIGS. 4 and 5 show the package so open, in plan and rear elevation, respectively. Revealed as part of the open end closure is portion 26, which is perpendicular to minor top portion 21 and rests in the closed position inside along the concealed surface of front wall 12.

Elongated opening 24 in rearwall 14 permits cigar 20 to be contacted by one or more fingers (not shown) on that side, as well as by the thumb on the opposite side to facilitate raising of the cigar into forcible contact with the overlying end closure to open it and thereby dispense the cigar. Either one or both of openings 22 and 24 in the respective front and rear walls may be provided, as desired. One opening width preferably is great enough to enable the next cigar in the row to be manipulated into position to be dispensed if tapping the package on the side does not suflice to do so.

Once the end of the cigar protrudes through the dispensing opening provided by upward swinging of the end closure, it may be gripped and removed completely from the package. It will be understood that the cigar may have an individual jacket (not shown) of cellophane, which may be removed as usual, with or without the customary cigar-encircling band (also not shown), to ready the cigar for smoking. The closure then may be swung back to the closed position. It will be noted that the hinge line is preferably located somewhat more than one cigar diameter (but less than two diameters) from the side of the package to facilitate the opening of the closure by the forcible contact of the cigar therewith. The elongated slot or slots should be located alongside the end cigar in the row but not so close to the nearby edge of the package as to reduce the package rigidity in that vicinity. Of course, the top remains relatively rigid even when the end closure is open because the major portion of the top end remains closed, although if desired it can be designed for optional opening to permit removal of the entire contents at once. In any event it is preferably to form the package from a unitary (i.e., one-piece) folding blank, which may be composed of suitably stiff paper or of foldable plastic or other semi-rigid laminar material.

In the embodiments of blank and package described below, similar parts or features are identified, wherever practicable, by similar reference numerals differing by multiples of a hundred from one another and from numerals for corresponding features of the package already described and illustrated. In this way primary attention is focused upon variation in features, and those once described by reference to another embodiment require little or no further description to render them and the illustration thereby thoroughly understood, For example, narrow side wall 13 having been mentioned above, it will be clear that numerals 113, 213, 313, etc. refer to corresponding nan-ow side walls of different embodiments of packages (or to the wall panels of the packaging blanks constituting the same when folded into package form). Shaded areas indicate location of adhesive, and closely spaced double lines indicate welts or scoring of the blanks to facilitate folding, as in the instance of like feature 25 already mentioned.

FIG. 6 shows packaging blank lying fiat just as die-cut or otherwise formed in conventional manner. The visible surface is chiefly that adapted to be exposed as the outside surface of a package formed by folding the blank along the indicated welts or score lines. Five wall panels are separated thereby from one another and from top and bottom flaps, as shown. Pair of wide wall panels 112 and 114 adjoin opposite side edges of narrow wall panel 113, and similar narrow wall panel 115 adjoins the opposite side edge of wide wall panel 114, and slightly narrow lap panel 111 (shaded for adhesive) adjoins the opposite side edge of wide wall panel 112. Elongated openings 122 and 124 are present in respective wide wall panels 112 and 114 near and evenly spaced from intervening narrow wall panel 113 and nearer the top than the bottom edge (part of the vertical extent of the blank being broken away to conserve space of illustration).

Adjoining the bottom edge of wide wall panel 112 of packaging blank .100 is rectangular inner bottom flap 116, which is shaded for adhesive. Adjoining the bottom edge of wide Wall panel 114 is slightly larger rectangular outer bottom flap 118. Adjoining the top edge of the latter wide wall panel is a tuck flap, which has a rectangular part similar in size to bottom flap 118 but divided into minor and major portions 121 and 123, respectively, separated by welt 125. Whereas the major portion is similarly separated from the adjoining wide wall panel, the minor portion is separated therefrom by slit 129. Adjoining this rectangular part of the tuck flap is the tuck or free end portion thereof, which has rounded side edges and is divided into minor and major portions separated by obliqueslit 127, which terminates at its inner edge at one end of welt 12 5 and at its outer edge somewhat nearer the midpoint of the free outer edge.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show package 110, formed by folding blank 100, in front elevation with the internal portions of the tuck flap shown in broken lines. In the former of these views the package is completed closed, whereas in the latter and end closure (similar to that of previous package .10 as shown open in FIGS. 2 and 5) is open, and cigar 20 is being dispensed through the opening so provided in the top end of the package. Upon opening, minor portion 126 of the tucked free end of the top flap, being free along slit 127, swings partly out from behind front side wall 112 with adjoined minor top portion 121, which pivots about its hinge on welt 125. Part of the lower portion of the package is cut away in FIG. 8 to reveal the interior and show the raised lower end of cigar 20.

lFIGS. 9 and 10 are sectional views through the top and bottom of package taken as indicated on FIG. 8. It will be understood that tucked portion 128 ('FIG. 9) of the tuck flap at the top is retained frictionally against the inner surface of wall 112, while inner and outer bottom flaps 1 16 and 118 (FIG; are secured adhesively to one another.

FIG. 11 shows packaging blank 200, which is another embodiment, also in the flat. It differs from previous blank 100 by having short slit 230 extending from the right side edge of the flap along part of the junction between major tuck portion 228 and major top portion 223 of the flap and curving slightly at its opposite end to terminate a short way within the latter, and by having small idented flap 23 1 adjoining the top edge of narrow wall panel 215. When this blank is folded into package f rm (as was the previous blank) by spacing the wide wall panels opposite and parallel to one another and spacing the narrow wall panels opposite and parallel to one another and perpendicular to the wide wall panels with one narrow panel overlapping and secured adhesively to the lap panel, and by overlapping the outer and inner bottom panels and securing them adhesively to one another, the indented flap and then the top flap may be folded down across the top and the free end of the top flap tucked inside along the inner surface of the front wall. Resulting package 210 is shown in front elevation in FIGS. 12 and 13, being completely closed in the former and open to dispense a cigar in the latter view.

In formation of package 210, short slit 230 will open enought to admit the unindented portion of the side edge of the indented flap, thereby locking the major tucked portion of the top flap in place, as shown in FIG. 14. FIGS. 15a, 15b, and 15s are sections taken vertically toward the rear, vertically toward the middle, and horizontally downward on the locked corner of the package of FIG. 14 as indicated thereon. Of course, if it is desired to open the entire tucked flap, as to re move the entire contents at once rather than to dispense the cigars one by one through the openable top end closure, the lock can be released by disengaging the edge of the indented cflap from the slit by pressing it inward. If desired, the bottom closure can consist of a tuck flap provided with slits at opposite edges to engage indented fiaps, one being provided at the bottom edge of each of the two narrow panels instead of the adhesively secured rectangular flaps illustrated.

Instead of relying upon frictional engagement, with or without the tuck lock feature, to secure closed the part of the flap not opened while the end closure for dispensing a single cigar is opened, adhesive may be employed. This either eliminates the alternative of readily dispensing the entire contents at once, in favor of single-file or magazine type of dispensing, or if desired the opposite end closure could be of simple flap type suited to dispensing the entire contents at one.

FIGS. 16 and 19 show packaging blanks 300 and 400, respectively, which are embodiments utilizing such adhesive securing of the part of the top end flap to which the openable end closure is hinged. Blank 300 differs in configuration from blank 1100 of FIG. 6 only in omission of the major tuck portion at the free end of the flap and in addition of an adhesive top flap. Thus, adhesive tlap 33 -3 adjoining wide wall panel 312 is adapted to underlie and be secured to major top portion 323 to which is hinged the openable end closure comprising minor top portion 321 and adjoining minor tuck portion 326, which lies along wide wall panel 312 in resulting package 310 shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. Blank 400 differs in configuration from blank 300 by having smaller adhesive flap 434- adjoining the middle portion of the top edge of corresponding wide wall panel 412 and by addition of a small tuck portion 436 adjoining part of the long edge of major top end portion 423 but spaced therealong from the oblique edge of tuck portion 426, which adjoins openable minor top portion 421. FIGS. 20-and 21 show package 410, which is formed by folding blank 400 and securing the adhesive portions as indicated.

Whereas in the blanks already described the oblique edge on the free end of the tuck flap results in an acute angled end or tail to the tucked portion of the openable closure, which by abutting the inside surface of the adjacent narrow side wall tends to prevent the closure from being opened too far for convenient reclosing, an additional means for accomplishing the same purpose is illustrated in the next embodiment.

FIG. 22 shows blank 500, which differs in configuration from blank of FIG. 6 only in having small slotforming slit 540 located in narrow wall panel 513 near and elongated along the junction to wide wall panel 514 and also near the top edge and by having two protuberances 541 and 542 on the free edge of minor tuck portion 526, which adjoins openable minor top portion 521. Package 510 formed from blank 500 by folding and securing it is shown in perspective in FIGS. 23 and 24, with the end closure closed and then opened, respectively. Sectional views taken thereon show in FIGS. 25 and 26 the respective corresponding positions of tuck portion 526 and the protuberances thereon. In the closed position protuberance 541, which is rounded and fairs smoothly at both ends into the regular edge of the tuck flap, engages slot 540 formed by the opening of slit 540' when the blank is folded into package form; in the open position protuberance 542, which is rounded similarly at its lower end but perpendicular to the regular edge of the tuck flap at its opposite end, engages the same slot. Thus, by virtue of the rounded edges of the protuberances, the openable end closure is restrained in the fully closed position but is swingable to and from it by application of appropriate force; it cannot be opened past the illustrated fully open position without destroying the catch provided by the perpendicular edge of the protuberance engaged in the slot in the latter position. If desired, slot 540 could be located in the inner lap panel and thereby be concealed from view, by appropriate rearrangement of the blank, as will be readily understood.

It is apparent that the openable end closure provided in the foregoing embodiments is open toward one wide side wall, which normally would be the rear side of the package. For greater structural rigidity and where both wide side walls are desired to provide similar or equally finished appearances, the next embodiment may be preferred.

Packaging blank 600 shown in FIG. 27 differs in configuration from blank 300 of FIG. 16 by replacement of the adhesive top flap by a complete flap structure essentially a mirror image of the flap structure adjoining the other wide side wall. Thus, adhesive flap 653, which is only slightly narrower than major top portion 623 adjoining wide Wall panel 614, has hinged to its along Welt or score line 652, which is perpendicular to the top edge of adjoining wide wall panel 612, minor top portion 651 separated from the wide wall panel by slit 659. Tuck portion 656 adjoins minor top portion 651, which also is shaded for adhesive. It will be noted that the adhesive location on the bottom flaps has been interchanged, along with their slight diflerence in width, right flap 618 being shaded for adhesive and narrower than left flap 616.

Package 610 formed from blank 600 is shown in perspective in FIG. 28, with the end closure open and a cigar shown in phantom therein. Minor top portions 621 and 651 are overlapped and secured together, spacing adjoining tuck portions 626 and 656 opposite one another alongside the opening and the wide wall panels. The resulting scooplike configuration through which the cigars are dispensed one by one is open toward the adjacent narrow side wall of the panel, as well as upward when in one position but is otherwise enclosed.

While several embodiments of packaging blank and package of this invention have been illustrated and described, some having certain advantages over others as indicated, other modifications having some of the same advantages and possibly others may be employed with similar benefit and convenience. Parts may be altered in size, shape, or number, subdivided or multiplied, or modified in composition while remaining within the purview of the invention, which is defined in the following claims.

The claimed invention: 1. In a portable package of cylindrical articles arranged side by side in a row, a single row only of cylindrical articles so arranged, a container of rectangular plan enclosing the articles as a group, the articles being covered thereby at each end, one end surface of the container being covered in minor part only by a cover flap joined to a wide side wall, an end closure swingably openable along a hinge line crossing the flap substantially perpendicular to its junction to the side wall and nearer to one of the narrow side walls than the other, the distance of the hinge line from the nearer narrow side wall being at least one but less than two diameters of the cylindrical articles, the openable end closure having a portion thereof oriented perpendicular to the end of the container and to the rest of the openable end closure and effective to rigidify and guide it during opening and closing thereof.

2. The portable package of claim 1 wherein said Wide side Wall and the opposing wide side wall have adjacent said nearer narrow side wall and a pair of elongated open ings, one each, aligned with said swingably openable end closure.

3. In a portable package of cylindrical articles arranged side by side in a row, a single row only of articles so arranged, a container of rectangular plan, the con tained articles being covered at one end by a flap joined to a side wall of the container and tucked inside along the opposite side wall after covering the container end, part of the flap comprising an end closure hinged to the rest of the flap and swingably openable independently thereof to uncover only one of the articles at a time and thereby to dispense that one of the articles.

4. In a portable package of cylindrical articles arranged side by side in a row, a single row only of articles so arranged, a container of rectangular plan, the contained articles being covered at one end by a flap integral with the container, the flap being joined to a wide side wall and tucked inside along the opposite wide side wall of the container after covering the end thereof, part of the flap comprising an end closure hinged to the rest of the flap and swingably openable independently thereof to uncover the entire end of only a single one of the articles, and a tuck portion adjoining the openable part of the flap and effective to rigidity and guide it during opening and closing of the end closure.

5. In a portable cigar package of rectangular plan, a plurality of cigars arranged side by side in a single row only, the cigars being enclosed in a folded container and covered at one end by a component rectangular flap joined to a wide side wall thereof, an end closure part of the flap being swingably openable along a hinge line spaced the width of at least one but less than two cigars from a narrow side edge of the flap and crossing the flap substantially parallel to that side edge, the end closure having a portion thereof oriented perpendicular to the end and slidable along the inside surface of a wide side wall upon opening and closing, the rest of the flap having a portion thereof oriented perpendicular to the end and lying along the inside surface of that wide side wall.

6. In a portable package of rectangular plan for cylindrical articles arranged side by side in only a single row, an end flap hinged to a Wide side wall and having a portion tucked inside along the opposite wide side wall, the flap including a swingably openable end closure hinged to the rest of the flap substantially perpendicular to the hinging of that flap to the side wall and openable by forcible contact of the end of one of the articles against the closure from the inside to dispense that article, a tucked portion of the flap being part of the openable end closure.

7. In a portable package for cylindrical articles arranged side by side in only a single row, enclosed on all sides of the row and covered at one end at least, an inte- 8 grally formed end closure swingably openable along a hinge line spaced along the end by an amount equal to the Width of at least one and less than two of the cylindrical articles from a narrow side edge of the row and crossing the piece substantially parallel to that side edge, the end closure having joined perpendicular to the end a guide portion slidable adjacent an inside wall of the package extending along the row.

8. The portable package of claim 7 wherein said wall has an elongated opening of at least said width and aligned with said swingably openable end closure.

9. Foldable unitary blank adapted to form the portable package invention defined in claim 7.

10. In a portable package of rectangular plan for cylindrical articles arranged side by side in only a single row, an end-flap hinged to a wide side wall and tucked inside along substantially the entire opposite Wide side wall after covering the end, part of the flap comprising a swingably openable end closure hinged to the rest of the fiap substantially perpendicular to the hinging of that flap to the wide side wall and openable by forcible contact of the end of one of the articles against the closure from the inside to dispense that article.

11. Foldable unitary blank adapted to form the portable package invention defined in claim 10.

12. In a portable package of rectangular plan for cylindrical articles arranged side by side in only a single row, a pair of end flaps hinged to opposite side walls, each flap having a portion tucked inside along the opposite side wall, and having an adjoining portion covering part of the end and hinged to the rest of the flap, the respective adjoining portions being secured in overlapping relationship to one another to form an openable end closure, the adjoining tucked portions sliding along and par tially out from under the adjacent side walls upon opening of the end closure.

13. Foldable unitary blank adapted to form the portable package invention defined in claim 12.

14. Packaging blank having a rectangular body portion made up of a pair of Wide wall panels and a pair of narrow Wall panels and a lap panel, foldable into rectangular tubular form to space the wide wall panels opposite and parallel to one another and space the narrow Wall panels opposite and parallel to one another and perpendicular to the wide wall panels and to overlap the lap panel by an edge portion of one of the other wall panels, and including bottom flap means adapted to close one end of the open-ended tube so formed and top flap means to close the other end thereof into container form, one of the flap means comprising a flap joined to a side wall and tucked inside along the opposite side wall after covering the end, part of the flap comprising an end closure hinged to the rest of the flap and swingably openable independently thereof to dispense one of the articles, and including means for securing the rest of the flap in closed position during opening of the end closure when in container form.

15. In a portable package of rectangular plan for cylindrical articles arranged side by side in only a single row, covered at one end by a rectangular flap joined to a side wall, an end closure swingably openable along a hinge line spaced the width of at least one and less than two of the cylindrical articles from a narrow side edge of the flap and crossing the flap substantially parallel to that side edge, the end closure having a portion thereof slidable along the inside surface of a Wide side wall upon opening, an adjacent part of that wide side wall having a slot therein parallel to the slidable portion of the end closure, that portion having thereon means cooperating with the adjacent slot in the wide side wall to prevent that portion from moving out of sliding engagement with that wide side wall upon complete opening of the end closure.

16. In a portable package of rectangular plan for cylindrical articles arranged side by side in only a single 9 row, covered at one end by a rectangular flap joined to a side wall, an end closure swingably openable along a hinge line spaced the width of at least one and less than two of the cylindrical articles from a narrow side edge of the flap and crossing the fiap substantially parallel to 5 that side edge, the end closure having a portion thereof slidable along the inside surface of a wide side wall upon opening, an adjacent part of that wide side wall having a slot therein parallel to the slidable portion of the end closure, that portion having thereon means cooperating with the adjacent slot in the wide side wall to retain that portion relatively securely to hold the end closure normally closed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,978,497 10/ 1934 Lind. 2,178,967 11/1939 Markert 229-44 2,928,571 3/1960 Caruso 206-412 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, THERON E. CONDON,

Examiners.

J. M. CASKIE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A PORTABLE PACKAGE OF CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES ARRANGED SIDE BY SIDE IN A ROW, A SINGLE ROW ONLY OF CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES SO ARRANGED, A CONTAINER OF RECTANGULAR PLAN ENCLOSING THE ARTICLES AS A GROUP, THE ARTICLES BEING COVERED THEREBY AT EACH END, ONE END SURFACE OF THE CONTAINER BEING COVERED IN MINOR PART ONLY BY A COVER FLAP JOINED TO A WIDE SIDE WALL, AN END CLOSURE SWINGABLY OPENABLE ALONG A HINGE LINE CROSSING THE FLAP SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO ITS JUNCTION TO THE SIDE WALL AND NEARER TO ONE OF THE NARROW SIDE WALLS THAN THE OTHER, THE DISTANCE OF THE HINGE LINE FROM THE NEARER NARROW SIDE WALL BEING AT LEAST ONE BUT LESS THAN TWO DIAMETERS OF THE CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES, THE OPENABLE END CLOSURE HAVING A PORTION THEREOF ORIENTED PERPENDICULAR TO THE END OF THE CONTAINER AND TO THE REST OF THE OPENABLE END CLOSURE AND EFFECTIVE TO RIGIDIFY AND GUIDE IT DURING OPENING AND CLOSING THEREOF. 